When I first started working with kids with learning differences, medication for ADHD was reserved for those who really needed it. It was a last resort, and for good reason.
There can significant side effects when stimulants enter the bodies of young children, and sometimes the side effects just aren’t worth the few hours of attention in school. That’s what parents said over and over again when faced with that difficult decision.
There’s been a dangerous trend in ADHD, though. Medication seems to be a first step in many cases these days, and some kids are being prematurely diagnosed with the disorder.
Lack of free play might not seem like a big deal when you have one million other things to do, but for your child – it’s the biggest deal. Play is what kids do. It’s how they learn and grow and make sense of the world. It’s how they remain healthy and get their exercise. It’s how they get their worries out and keep anxiety low. It’s what they do. They need it. They crave it. But they aren’t getting it.
Head on over to mom.me to read more about how play can help kids with ADHD.
Then get outside and play!